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Paul Chevalier Talks About the Wonder of Chateau d’Esclans
It has been a hectic year for Chateau d’Esclans – but for all of the right reasons. The Provencal vineyard’s rosé wines have become a regular fixture in international jet setting circles, and the challenge now is simply keeping up with demand.
We sat down with Paul Chevalier, US Importer for Chateau d’Esclans, at the recent Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show, to find out more about the vineyard’s four distinct wines and what makes them so special.
“We’ve had a busy season especially here in the US,” he said, “starting here in the north, whether it was the Hamptons, Nantucket, Marther’s Vineyard, East Booth bay. It’s been extremely busy and then it continued onto the west coast, with Los Angeles Food and Wine Exhibition, and Santa Fe New Mexico, so rosé is spreading.
Last month the stratospheric rise of Chateau d’Esclans was further evidenced by their inclusion at The Wine Spectator Wine Experience in New York.
“Yes, that was a real treat,” he said. “The Wine Spectator Wine Experience is every two years, and it’s 300 of the best wines of the world. There was only one rosé invited this year and it was Chateau d’Esclans and our Garrus.”
Perhaps more than any other, it is the Chateau d’Esclans Whispering Angel that has really taken the wine world by storm. So what does Paul think is the secret of its success?
“As I mentioned in the past, I think a lot of people have travelled and this rosé phenomenon has spread,” he said. “We’ve been very prominent about educating people on rosé – all the places I mentioned earlier we’ve done intensive education, wine tastings, and that’s why I’m here at the Fort Lauderdale Boat Show.”
He continued: “The wine tastings are very, very important for explaining that rosé from Provence is not sweet, and it is about this light and pale colour, so if it looks kind of pinky, don’t drink it!
You can watch the full video interview with Paul Chevalier above this article.